Plate-lifting mechanism for rolling-machines



I. M c BABE, PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR RDLLING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, l91 9.

1 ,389 52 1 Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

. T. McCABE PLATE LI FTING MECHANISM FOR RQLLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE (7,1919.

Patehted Au 30, 1921;

s SHEETS-SHEET 2.

' 2%? Zia/724a" e.

' T. M CABE. PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MACHINES.

APPuATlQN men JUNE 17. 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

T. McCAB'E.

PLATE umm; MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MACHINES.-

APPLICATION FYLED JUNE 17, 1919.

Patentd Aug. 30, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

T. McCABE.

'PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MACHINES APPLICATION FILED JUNE 17, I919.

1,389,521. Patented Aug. 30, 1921..

6. SHEETSSHEET 5.

T. McCABE.

- PLATE LIFTING MECHANISM FOR ROLLING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED )UNE 17,-1919.

, 1,3 9,5 Patented Aug. 30, 1921.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

I To all whom it may" concern UNITED STATES P AT ENT dFF'tCE.

I MoCAiBE, E YORKVILLE, OHIO.

, PLATE-LIF'IING Manamaronnonmne-monmns.

Application filed June .17, 1919. Serial No. 304,825.

Beit. known that I, THOMAS MoCABn, a

, citizen of the United -States,'.residing at Yorkville, Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Plate-Lifting Mechanism for Rolling-Machines, of which -the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will, enable others skilled in the art to which'it appertains to make and use the same. i

v This invention relates to sheet metal .plate rolling machines of the kind in which the plates are passed numerous times through the rolls of the machine.

In operating sheet'metalplate machines or rolling mills of the character referred to it is the universal practice to employ one operative, generally termed a roller, who

stands in front of the rolls-of the machine and feeds the plates rearwardly through the" rolls and two operatives, generally termed catchers, who stand at the rear of the rolls so as to receive the plates and lift them upwardly onto the top roll of the machine" into such a position that the roller can grasp -the plates, pull them forwardly and then.

feed them through the rolls again.

The main object of my-invention is to provide a practicable mechanism that is adapted to be used in conjunction with *a'fs'heet metal plate machine or-rolling mill for re! ceiving the plates as they are delivered from the rolls and moving-the plates upwardly into sucha position that they oanbe grasped by the" roller stationed at the front of the machine, thereby overcoming the necessity of employing two catchers for each machine a or mill, as is now the universal practice.

To this endfI have devised a mechanism thatcomprises means arranged at. the rear of the rolls of a'she et metal machine or rolling 'mill for raising or elevating the the platesl afteipthey have beendischarged from the rollsof' the mill and holding the plates in such a position that the operative stationed at the front of the machine can fthrough the rolls.

reach over the top 'roll of the machine, grasp the plates and then draw them forwardly over the top roll of the machine preparatory to again feeding the plates rearwardly successfully forhandling various kinds of objects, but it is particularly applicable either to cold mills or hot mills, namely, ma-

Specification of Letters Patent.

struction "herein shown.

My in'ventioncan be used chines-[for rolling platescoldor hot. vari ous other means than those herein illustrated can be employed for receiving the'plates' as Patented- Aug. 30, 1921. j

they are discharged from the rolls and lift 4 ing the plates or moving them upwardly into position to be enga ed by the roller stationed in front of the mil ,and therefore, I do not wish it. to be understood that my invention is limited to a mechanism of the exact con Figure 1 of the drawings is a front elevational view of a sheet metal plate machine or rolling mill equipped with a platelifting mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention. v

Fig. 2 is a side elevational View of said machine, showing the in their depressedposition.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine.

Fig. 4 is aside elevational view, showing' the plate lifter carriers in their raised .po-

sition.

1 F ig. 5 is a vertical sectidnal view, taken on the line 5-5 of F ig: 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view,..taken -on the line 66 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

plate lifter carriers 1 l Fig. 7 is a top plan view, illustratingpart of themechanism that is employed for swing-- plate lifters relatively to its in'g one of the carrier.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the operatively connected with said rolls in such a manner that the rolls A and B will operate continuously when the .drive shaft 1 is in operation. A stationary table or support C ofany preferred constructionis arranged at the rear of the rolls A and B so as to re ceive the plates as they'are deliveredfrom the rolls, and means is provided for lifting said plates ormoving them upwardly from the table C and holding the plates in such a V position that they can be grasped easily by [the roller or operative stationed at the front of the machinewho pulls said plates forwardly. and thereafterfeeds them through j'the rollsA and B, these operations being repeated numerous times until the plates have been rolled to the proper degree.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1- to 7, inclusive, which is designed for use with a cold roll mill,the means that is employed for lifting the plates from .the table .6 and holding said plates in position to be grasped by the roller consists of two platelifters D and D arranged longitudinally of thetable C at opposite sides of same and mounted on vertically movable carriers E and E, respectively, said plate lifters being covered with material d'of such a character that it .will not mar or scratch the finished plates. Said carriers are adapted to be moved upwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 into the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or a horizontal position (piarallel to the .top surface of the table as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. Normally the'carriers E and E stand in their elevated position shown. in

Fig. l with the plate lifters D and D. in

a horizontal position. Assuming that a gate has. been fedthrough' the rolls A and of the machine and that the operator in charge of the machine desires to pass said I 'plate through the rolls A and B again, the

operator actuates a device. which causes the plate lifting mechanism to become operative. During the first step of the cycle of said mechanism the carriers E and 1:1 move downwardly and the plate lifters D and D on said carriers swing from a horizontal into a-vertical position so that said plate lifters will not strike against the plate which is then resting on the table C. After the carriers E and E have reached their depressed position the plate lifters swing into a horizontal position so that they will be positioned underneath the plate lying on the table 'C. Thereafter said carriers E and E move upwardly'into the position shown plate lifters and the plate lifter carriers that are arranged at the opposite sides of the table C are of substantially the same construction. -Accordiflgly, wherever I refer to the parts or devices that cooperate with one plate'lifter or one plate lifter carrier,

it. will be understood that similar parts or devices designated by corresponding reference characters are associated with the other plate lifter and plate lifter carrier. As shown in Figs. 2 and 4., the carrier E is supported at its front end by a substantially bell-crank-shaped lever 2 pivotally 'connectstrength to said lever and link to eliminate the possibility of the carrier tilting sidewise-with relation to said lever and link.

The shafts 2 and 3 are. journaled in bearings on a supporting structure F, and means is provided for turningysaid shafts so as to swing the lever 2 and link 3 upwardly and downwardly, and thus raise and lower the carrier E. The means'herein illustrated for rocking the shafts just referred to consists of an oscillating actuating member'G that is carried by the supporting structure F and which is provided at its upper end with two racks 5 and 6, as shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 4. The rack 5 meshes with a gear 5* secured to the shaft 2 and the rack6 meshes with a gear 6 secured to the shaft 3 Accordingly, when the actuating'member G rocks forwardly or to the right, looking at Fig. 4; the shafts 2 and 3 will turn in a direction to move the plate lifter carrier E downwardly into the position shown in Fig. 2. When said actuating member G rocks in the opposite direction the carrier E will move zupwardly back to the position shown in Fig. 4:. In order to assist the actuating'member G to lower and raise the carrier E, the shafts2 and 3 are provided with counterweights'2 and 3", re

spectively. The plate lifter carrier E that is arranged at theopposite side of the table C is operated by an actuating member G illustrated in Fig. 5, said actuating member member G by across shaft 4 that is j ournaled in hearings in the two supporting structures F and F arranged at opposite sides of the table C. Rocking movement is imparted to the act-uatingmember G and G by means of cams 7 and 7* on a transverselydisposed cam shaft 8 which is journaled in bearings in the supporting structures F and F. When the cam shaft '8 starts to rotate the G being rigidly connected to the actuating f the cross shaft 4:, it will'be obvious that the cam .thereon bearslagainst'a roller 1"70 on the actuating member G and rocks said member Gr forwardly from the position shown in Fig. v4-into the position'shown in Fig. 2.. Thereafter,- the' cam 7 on said cam shaft bears against a roller 170 on-the actuatingmember G and rocks said thereafter impartedtothe' actuating memactuating member G rearwardly.' In view of the fact that the actuating members G and G'are rigidly connected together by forward movement that is imparted to the actuating memberGr by the earn 7 will be transmitted to the actuating member GT and that the rearward movement which is her G will be transmitted" to the actuating member G. The cam shaft 8. is rotated intermittentlyby a sprocket chain 9 which passes around a sprocket wheel 9 on said cam shaft and around a sprocket wheel 9 on an intermittentl'yoperating shaft position, however, as shownin Fig. 4, the

front endsof same'tilt downwardly slightly .s'o as to'hold the 'plate onjthe plate lifters D andD' in such a position that the operator can easily draw said-plate forwardly off the plate'lifters. This slight u ward tilt to the rear ends of the carriers and E is obtained by connecting the links 3 to said carriers in such a manner that the distance between the centers of the shafts 3 and the point of connection of, the links 3'with said carriers. will be increased automatically, thus virtually, lengthening the links 3 when said carriers mo-venpwardly. It' will be obvious that this action can be obtained in various ways, but I prefer to provide each of the links 3 with an eccentric strap 2: that loosely surrounds a floating eccentric g which is pivotally connected at etc the carshown in Figs. 1, 2 and 7 which meshes with ;a bevel gear 16 secured to .a short stub shaft 17'thatis arranged at right angles to .the shaft 14, as shown in Fig. 7, and which is I journaled in bearings in the plate lifter carrier. The shaft 17 is provided with a. pinion 18 thatis connected by means of an idler 19 with .a gear 20 secured to a loose sleeve 21 on the shaft 2, as shown'in Fig. 3, the sleeve 21 being provided with a PIIllOIl' 22 that meshes. with avrack 23 on the'xupper end of a plate lifter actuatingmembe'r 1 shown in ,Figs.' 2 and 4c. A similar plate lifting actuating member I is arranged at the other side of'the table C for actuating the plate lifter .D, and. said plate lifter actuating I wa'rdly, thereby causing the "plate lifters D" and D which are then in a horizontal position to swing downwardlyinto-a verti-- The cam-shaft 8 previously recal position, due, of course, to the movement that is imparted to the shafts 10 by means of the gears and pinions arranged between the shafts 10 and the racks 23 on the upper ends of the members I and I. After the plate lifter carriers reach their depressed position, as shown in Fig. 2, the cam 25 on the cam shaft 8 engages the roller 26 on the member I, and thus causes both of the members I and I to swing rearwardly back to their normal position, shown in Fig. 4, thereby moving the plate lifters Dv and D into a horizontal position.

' The supporting structures are arranged at theppposite sides of the rier with which said link cooperates, 'as\ table 0 are u e on a bed Plate J in shown in Figs. 2 and 4:. Each ofthe plate lifters is rigidly connected to a horizontallydisposed shaftlO, shown in .Fig. 1, that is journaled inbearings on the carrier for said plate lifter, and the movementof said plate lifter from a horizontal into a vertical position and then back into a horizontal position is effected by rocking the In the form of my invention hereinillustrated the means for rocking each of the shafts 10 consists" of an arm 11 on .said shaft whoseupperend 60 is pivotally connected to a curved link 12 that is pivotally connected to a rigid arm 13 on a rock shaft 14:, as shown in Fig. 1. The rock shaft'14 which is arranged at right angles to the axis ofmovement of the plate lifter is provided' with a bevel gear 15,

such a manner that one or both of said supporting structures can be adjusted laterally with reference to thetable C so as to adapt the mechanism to plates of various widths. In the machine herein shown the supporting F and that structure 'F is slid-ingly'mounted on guideways on the bed plate J and set screws or other suitable devices 27 are provided for holding said supportingstructure F in adj-j justed position. The cams on the cam shaft 8 are keyed to same in such a manner that they can be adjusted longitudinally of the cam shaft, and the two carriers E and E are tied together by means of a tie bar 28 that passes through bearings in said carriers and which is secured to same by set screws 29,,

as shown in Fig. 3. The operation of the plate lifting mech' nism above described is governed by al'clutch under control of the operator in chargeof the machine.

versely-disposed shaft 30 is arranged hori- .1

zontally in bearings in the frame of the machine that carries the rolls A and B, said shaft 30 beingadapted to be driven from any suitable source of power. In the form of my invention herein shown a belt 31 is employed for driving said shaft 30 from the main drive shaft 1 of the machine and said shaft 30 is provided at one end with a gear 32 that meshes with a gear. 33 loosely mounted on the intermittent shaft H previously referred to. A clutch member 34 is keyed to the shaft H, and a cooperating clucth member 34 is secured to the loose gear 33, the clutch member 34 being acted upon by a spring 35 that exerts pressure on same in a direction tending to move .it into engagement with the clutch member on the loose gear 33. The intermittent shaft H is provided with a gear 36, shown in Fig. 3, that meshes with a relatively large gear wheel 37 to which a cam 38 is attached. This cam 38 cooperates with a roller 39 on the upper end of a lever. 40 secured to a horizontally-disposed shaft 41 that is journaled in bearings on' the frame of the mill, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The shaft 41 is provided with a second arm 42, shown in broken lines in Fig. 2, whose upper end is bifurcated and arranged in engagement with a locking plunger 43 that normally holds the clutch member 34 out of engagement with the cltuch member 34 onthe loose gear 33, the clutch member 34 being provided with a cam 134, as shown in Fig. 3, with which the are in engagement with each other the shaft H will rotate with the constantly rotating 3 shaft 30, thereby causing the clutch controlling cam 38 to revolve, At a certain point in the cycle of operation of said clutch controlling cam 38 the shaft 41 rocks 'rearwardly under the influence of a spring 44 connected to the arm 40 on said shaft, thereby, causing the plunger 43 to be pushed rearwardly into the path of the cam 134 on the .clutch member 34, said cam being so shaped that after it has been engaged by the plunger 43 it causes the clutch member 34 to be moved longitudinally of the shaftH out of engagement with the clutch member on the loose gear 3'3', thereby causing the shaft H to come to rest. As soon as the shaft H stops the clutch controlling cam 38 comes to rest in such a position that the locking plunger 43 will remain in its operative position in engagement with the clutch member 34. To, start the plate wardly on the hand lever 45 that is connected to the shaft 4l, or depresses a foot pedal.

46 that is connected by'means' of a link 47 with tlie hand lever 45, thereby causing the .'ar1i1 42 on the shaft 41 to retract the lock- As shown in Fig. 1, a.trans- V the clutch member 34. As soon'as said clutch member is released from the locking plunger the spring 35' moves said member into engagement With the clutch member on the loose gear 33, thereby causig the shaft H to-start to rotate and to continue in operation until the clutch controlling cam 38 reaches such a position that the locking plunger 43 will move rearwardly and disengage the two cooperating clutch members 34 and 34 A plate lifting mechanism-0f the construction above described, when used in conjunction with a rolling mill or sheet metal plate machine, will do the work that heretofore required two skilled operatives, or catchers, as they were generally termed. Accordingly, it effects a considerable saving in thecost of manufacturing sheet metal plates, for it enablesaroll ng mill or a machine in which metal plates are rolled to be operated by one operative, namely, a roller instead of by a roller and two catchers, as is now the universal practice. In addition to materially reducing the number of operatives required in a plant, my improved mechanism handles the plates more rapidly and more efficiently than they can be handled by workmen. This is particularly truewhen the mechanism is used in conjunction with a hot mill, for in a hot mill the catchers have to use tongs to lift the plates upwardly into position to be grasped bythe roller stationed at the front of the mill.

In some classes of work, for example, rolling hot plates,- it-is desirable to construct the mechanism in such a manner that the cycle of the plate lifters will be merely fromtheir depressed position to their elevated posit-ion, or from their elevated position'to their depressed position, said'plate lifters coming to rest at the end of the cycle and remaining at rest eitherin their elevated position or in their depressed position until the operator in charge of the machine actuates the clutch or controlling device that causes the mechanism to start operating. In Fig. 8 of the drawings I have illustrated one of the plate lifter carriers 100 of a mechanism constructed in this manner, both carriers of the mechanism being supported and actuated by a means similar to that described in connection with the form of my invention illustrated in Figs.

1 to 7. The rear end of the. carrier isconnected to its supporting link 101 by a sliding bearing 102 arranged in an elongated opening in the carrier, and the plate lifter 103 onsai-d carrier. is rigidly connected to same, it being possible to make the plate lifters of the-mechanism rigid instead of hinged, due to the fact that the operator will not feed a plate through the rolls of the mill unless the plate lifters 103 are in position to receive in the event the plate is discharged from the rolls crooked, as sometimes occurs. In such a mechanism no means similar, to the memhers I and I and the parts ,{LSSOClfLtEd w th same are necessary, becausetlie plate lifters are rigidly connected to the plate-lifter car-' riers, the clutch controlling cam 38 and-cooperating lever 40 are eliminated and the driving mechanism that is arranged between the intermittent shaft H and the cam shaft 8 is so designed that the gear ratio between said shafts willbe'two to one. The mechaclutch member 34 to move into engagement with the cooperating clutch member on the" loose gear 33, the end ofthe plunger 43 thereafter riding on the hub of the cam 134 .on

the clutch member 34;. When the shaft H makes one complete revolution and the cam shaft 8 makes one-half of a revolution, the locking plunger 43 will render the clutch member 34; inoperative, and thus cause the shaft H to come to rest. It will thus be seen that it is necessary for the operator to trip the locking; plunger 43 each time he desires to have the plate lifters move either upwardly for. downwardly. Another slight i change that I prefer to make in the construction of the mechanism, when it is designed supporting table at, the rear of the rolls of the mill in such a manner that the front end of same can be tilted upwardly by a mechanism vunder control of the operator at the front of the mill, so as to discharge a hot plate from the table after the rolling operation has been completed. In Fig. 9 of the drawings I have illustrated a table 105 ofthe character just referred to, said table being pivotally mounted on a supporting structure in such a manner' that the front end of thetable. can be tilted upwardly, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 9, by depressing an operating device 106 at the front of the mill, which is connected by means of a link 107 to a rock arm 108 secured to the table.

A mechanism of the character just dcscribed will not be affected by the'heat from the hot plates or the scale that drops off of "the plates; it can be made very strong and rigid and it can be built cheaply, due to the elimination of a'great many of the parts that are essential when the mechanism is con-- structed in the manner illustrated in Figs. -1

to 7, inclusive.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as. new and desire to secure by Let tersPatent, is:

1. A plate lifting mechanism for plate rolling machines, comprising plate lifters power that drives sai mechanism," for the machine and bodily lift or raise said arranged at the rear of the rolls of the machine, carriers to which said plate lifters are connected, and means comprising a counterweighted, mechanism and a source of bodily raising and lowering said carriers so as to cause theplate lifters to engage a plate that has been discharged from the rolls of 2. A plate lifting mechanism for plate rolling machines, comprising plate lifters arranged at the rear of the rolls of the rnachine, carriers to which said plate lifters are nism can be started by pulling the locking plunger 43 forwardly so as. to permit the connected, means comprising a counterweighted mechanism and a source of power that drives said mechanism, for bodily raising and lowering said carriers so as to cause the plate lifters to engage a plate that hasbeen discharged from the rolls of the ma- V v at opposite sides of said table which nor for use with a hot 'mill, is to construct the.-

ma-lly occupy an elev'atedposition in proximity to the top roll, and means-for "causing said plate'lift'ers to move downwardly, re-

move a plate from said table and thereafter.

move said plate upwardly into such a position that it can be en aged by the operator 1% and move itupwardly, a counterweightedmeans for reciprocating or bodily raising and lowering said member, and means for causing said member to assume such afposiitlon while it is traveling upwardly that the plate thereon is tilted slightly.

6,. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a vertically-movable member that is adapted to raise a plate, rock shafts provided with devices that are pivotally connected to said member adjacent the opposite ends of same, means for turning said shafts so as to raise and lower said member, and means for vary-. ing the pivotal connection between one of said devices and said member so as to tilt or raise one end of said member.

7 A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a vertically movable member, rock shafts journaled in a supporting structure and provided with devices that'are pivotally con nected to said member, counterweights secured to saidrock shafts, a drive shaft, and mechanism arranged between said drive shaft and rock shafts forturning said rock shafts positively in opposite directions so as to raise and lower said member.

8. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a vertically movable member, rock shafts journaled in a supporting structure and provided with devices that are pivotally connected to said member, counterweights secured to said rock shafts, means for turning said shafts in opposite directionsso as to raise and lower said member, and a floating .eccentric that forms part ofthe pivotal connection between one of said devices'and said member and which causes one end of said member to tilt downwardly when said merriber is movin vertically.

9.. A latrfiifting mechanism, comprising" a plate ifter, a carrier to which said plate lifter is connected, rock shafts provided with devices that are pivotally connected to said carrier, an oscillating actuating mem-'' her, and a rack and pinion mechanism arranged between said actuating member and said rock shafts for raising'and lowering said carrier. 1 V

1 0. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a plate lifter, a carrier to which said platelifter is connected, rock shafts provided with devices that are pivotally con-' nected to said carrier, an oscillating actuating member, a rack and pinion mechanism arranged between said actuating member and said rock shafts for raising and lowering said carrier, and counterweights secured to said rock shafts.

11. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a plate lifter, a vertically movable carrier that supports said plate lifter, rock shafts joined to said carrier and provided with counterweights, an oscillating actuating member for rocking said shafts positively in opposite directions so as to raise and lower said carrier, and means for causing said plate lifter to move relatively to said carrier when said carrier is being raised and lowered. 1

12. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a plate lifter, a vertically movable carrier that supports said. plate lifter, rock shafts provided with devices that are joined to said carrier, an oscillating actuating member for rocking said shafts in opposite directionsso as toraise and lower said carrier, and a second oscillating member operatively connected with said plate lifter insuch a manner that it causes said plate 4 provided with racks that mesh with pinions lifter to swing into an angular position with relation to said carrier when said carrier moves.

13. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling machines, comprising a table arranged at the rear of the rolls of the machine for receiving the plates that are discharged from said rolls, vertically-movable members arranged at the opposite" sides of said table in parallel relation to; each other and provided with means for engaging aplate po- Y sitioned on said table and moving said.plate upwardly, rock shafts provided with devices that are pivotally connected to saidmembers, a pair of oscillating actuating members arranged at the opposite sides of said table for rocking said shafts so as to raise and lower said members, and a cam shaft provided with cams that are adapted to move said actuating members in oppo site directions. A

14. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling machines, comprising plate lifters arranged at the rear of the rolls of the machine on opposite sides of a table or support that receives the plates as they are discharged from the rolls, vertically-movable carriers to which said plate lifters are connected, a pair of rockshafts associated with each carrier and provided with devices that are pivotally connected to said carrier, counterweights secured tosaid rock shafts, an oscillating actuating member for each carrier on saidrock shafts, and a cam shaft pro vided with cams, one of which cooperates with one of said actuating members to rock both actuating members in one direction and the other of'which cooperates with the I other actuating member to rock both of said actuating members in the opposite direction.

15. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling machines, comprising plate lifters arranged .atthe rear of the rolls of the machine on opposite sides of a table or support that re ceives the plates as they are discharged from the rolls, vertically-movable carriers to which said plate lifters are connected, a pair of rock shafts associated with each carrier and provided with devices that are pivotally connected to said carrier, counterweights secured to said rock shafts, an oscillating actuating member for each carrierprovided with racks that mesh with pinions on said rock shafts, a cam shaft provided with cams, one of which cooperates with one of said actuating members to rock both actuating. members in one direction and the other of. which cooperates with the other actuating member to rock both of said actuating members in the o posite direction, and means operated by said camshaft for causing said plate lifters to swing relatively to said carriers when said carriers move upwardly and downwardly.

v 16. A plate lifting mechanism for rolling machines, comprising plate lifters arranged at the rear of the rolls ofcthe-machine on opposite. sides" of a table or support that receives the plates as they are discharged from the rolls, vertically-movable carriers to which said plate lifters are connected, a pair of. rock shafts associated with each carrier and provided with devices that are pivotally connected to 'said carrier, ccninterweights securedoto said rock shafts, an oscillating actuating member for eachcarrier providedw1th racks that mesh with pimons on' said rock'shafts, a cam shaft provided with cams,

40 so as to engage the plate lying on the table one, of which cotiperateswith one ofsaid actuating members to rock both actuating members in one direction and the other of which coiiperates with the -other actuating member to rock both of said actuating members in the opposite direction, and means for swinging said plate lifters relatively'to their carriers comprising cams on saidfcam shaft, oscillatin members cooperating with said oams, an racks on said oscillating members connected by trains of gearing directly; to said plate lifters.

l 17. A plate rolling machine, comprising a table arrangedat the rear of the rolls. of the -ma"chine for receiving the plates that are discharged from said rolls, a. plate lifting mechanism arranged at the rear of the rolls and comprising p-late lifters that normally lie in a substantially horizontal-position in proximity to the top roll of the machine, and an operating mechanism for said plate lifters that causes said plate lifters to swing into a substantially vertical position, move downwardly to a point below the plate lying on said table and thereafter swing back to a horizontal position'and move upwardly and move said plate upwardly into a position to 'be grasped by the operator standing means for causing the plate lifters to move I relatively to said carriers so as to pass the side edges of the plate lying on the table when said carriers move downwardly and thereafter swing back into a position to en' gage the plate'when the carriers move up wardlv.

19 A plate rolling machine. comprising rolls between which the plates are fed, a plate lifting mechanism arranged at the rearof the rolls of the machine. comprising vertically-movable carriers eqiiippe'd with means for engaging a plate that has been ,discharged from the rolls of the machine and moving said plate upwardly vinto proximity.to the top roll-of the machine, an operating mechanism for said carriers, a clutch for connectingsaid operating mech anism with.some suitable source of power,

and means for rendering said clutch inoperative automatically after said carriers have moved downwardly and returned to their normal'elevated position.

20. A plate rolling machine, comprising rolls between which the plates are fed, means arranged atthe rearof the rolls of the ina-- chine for elevating the plates that are discharged from the rolls, an operating mechanism for said plate elevatingmeans, a clutchfor connecting said operating mechanism with some suitable source of power,

and means for automatically rendering said clutch inoperative (comprising a plunger, a rock shaft provided with a member that moves said plunger into' position to disengage said clutch,.and a cam for controlling the position of said rock shaft.

21'. plate rolling machine, comprising rolls between which the plates are passed,

means for drivingsaid rolls, an intermittently operating shaft, a clutch for connecting said intermittent shaft withsaid driving means, an automatic device for render ing said clutch inoperative, and mechanism arranged at the rear of the rolls of the machine and ope'ratively connected with said intermittent shaft for elevating the plates that are discharged from the rolls and holding said plates in position to be grasped by the operator in front of the machine.

22. In a plate rolling machine, a table or support arranged at the rear of the rolls of the machine for receiving the plates that are discharged from the rolls, vertically-movable plate lifting devices arranged at opposite sides of said table, and means for enabling said plate lifting devices to be. ad-

justed laterally with relation to said table so as to adapt them to plates of different widths:

23. In a plate rolling machine, "rolls between which the platesare passed, a table or support arranged at the rear of the rolls for receiving the plates that are discharged from the rolls, vertically-movable carriers arranged'at the rear side of the machine in parallel relation to said table and-provided with plate lifters, supporting structure carrying mechanisms that operate said carriers. and means for enabling one of said" supporting structures, to be adjusted laterally with relation to' said table.

'24. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising means for rocking said shafts to raise and lower said plate lifter..

25. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a plate lifter, a pair of rock shafts provided with counterweights, connections between said rock'shafts and said plate lifter, means for rockingsaid shafts to raise and lower said plate lifter, and means for causing one end of said plate lifter to tilt downwardly when said plate lifter is being raised.

26. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a table that is adapted to receive a plate, vertically reciprocating carriers arranged longitudinally of said table at opposite sides of same, a counterweighted mechanism for bodily moving said carriers upwardly and downwardly, and plate lifters on said car'- riers that remove the plate from said table when said carriers move upwardly. 27. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a table that is adapted to receive a plate,

vertically reciprocating carriers arranged longitudinally of said table at opposite sides of same, a counterweighted mechanism for bodily moving said carriers upwardly and downwardly, plate lifters on said carriers that assume a substantially horizontal position and remove the plates from said table when said carriers move upwardly, and means for causing said plate lifters to move into an angular position with relation to said carriers when said I carriers move down wardly so that Said lifters will clear the side edges of the plate lying on the table.

28. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a table that is adapted to receive a plate,-

vertically-reciprocating carriers arranged longitudinally of said table at opposite sides of same, a counterweighted mechanism for bodily moving said carriers upwardly and downwardly, plate lifters on said carriers that remove the plate from said table when said carriers move upwardly,"and a connection between said carriers which causes them to move in unison.

29, A plate liftin mechanism, comprising a pair of vertically-movable carriers ar-' ranged in parallel relation on opposite sides of a table that is adapted to receive a plate, means for raising and lowering said carriers, pivotally mounted plate lifters on said carriers whose axes extend longitudinally of the carriers, and means for causing said plate lifters to rock downwardly into a sub-.

stantially vertical position when the carriers move downwardl and thereafter upwardly into a substantial y horizontal position so as to engage the plate lying on the table when the carriers move upwardly. i

30. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising ap'air of carriers arranged in parallel relation to each other on opposite sides of a table that is adapted to receive a plate, plate lifters on said carriers, counterweighted rockshafts joined to said carriers in such a man: ner that they will positively raise and lower said carriers when said shafts are rocked, mechanism'for rocking said shafts,'a drive shaft, and a clutch under control of the operator in charge of the machine for connecting said drive shaft with the mechanism that operates said rock shafts.

31. A plate lifting mechanism, comprising a pair of carriers arranged in parallel relation to each other on opposite sides of a'table that is adapted to receive a plate, plate lifters on said carriers, counterweighted rock shafts joined to said carriers in such a manner that they-will positively raise and lower said carriers when said shafts are rocked, mechanism for rocking said shafts, a drive shaft, a clutch under control of the operatorin charge of themachine for connecting said drive shaft with the mechanism that operates said rock shafts, and means for automatically rendering said clutch inoperative at the completion of the cycle of operations of said carriers.

32. A plate-lifting mechanism for plate rolling machines, comprising vertically reciprocating carriers that normally occupy an elevated .position in proximity to the top roll of the machine, a table for receiving the plates that are discharged from the rolls, means under control of the operator in charge of the machine for causing said carriers to move downwardly into proximity to said table and thereafter upwardly into proximityyto said top roll, and plate lifters on said carriers that swing into a horizontal position and remove a plate lying on said table when said carriers moveaipwardly.

' 33. A plate lifting mechanism for plate rolling machines, comprising vertically-reproximity to said top roll, plate lifters on said carriers that swing into a horizontal- .position and remove .a plate lying on said table when said carriers move upwardly, and means for positively moving said plate lifters relatively to said carriers in such a manner that said plate lifters will clear the plate lying-on the table when the carriers move. downwardly and will thereafter move into a position to engage the plate when the carriers move upwardly.

34. A plate lifting mechanism for plate rolling machines, comprising a pair of vertically-movable carriers arranged in (parallel relation to each other at opposite si es of a for causing said table arranged at the rear of the rolls of the machine, plate lifters on said carriers, a counterweighted operating mechanism for said carriers that normally holds said carriers in an elevated position in proximity to the top roll of the machine, means under control of the operator in charge ofthe machine counterweighted mecha nism to move the carriers. downwardly and then upwardly so as to cause the plate lifters 1 0 on the carriers to engage and remove the plate lying on the table, and means for causing the plate to assume such a position when the carriers come to rest that the front end of the plate will tilt downwardly toward the 15 top roll of the machine.

THOMAS MoOABE; 

